Patent GB-1108091-A (GB)
Title: Cloth cutting machine
Inventor: BOOTH CHARLES WHITNEY
IPC: B26D1/18
Filed: 1965-02-25
Abstract: 1,108,091. Cutting-machines. PRICES TAILORS Ltd. 6 July, 1965 [25 Feb., 1965], No. 8094/65. Heading B4B. A machine for cutting predetermined lengths off a piece or bolt of cloth comprises a table 1 with means 2 for conveying a piece of cloth CX therealong, cutter mechanism mounted on a carriage 33 which is traversible laterally across and above the table by power means, and means 28 for detecting the arrival at a predetermined point of the leading edge of the travelling cloth to cause actuation of the cutter mechanism, the cutter mechanism including a rotary knife 40 and a cloth raising foot 41 and means automatically actuated at the end of the cutting traverse of the carriage for raising the knife and foot above the cloth on the conveyer means, holding them up during the reverse traverse of the carriage, and lowering them into cutting position again at their starting point. The cloth is conveyed over the table by means of driven endless belts 2 and the'detector means comprises a light beam projector and a photoelectric cell assembly co-operable with a reflector strip 26 whereby when the leading edge of the travelling uncut cloth reaches the detector means it interrupts the reflected beam and thereby through the detector circuit causes the belts 2 to be stopped and the cutting action to be started. The detector means is carried by an adjustable bridge 22 co-operable with a scale 27 to determine the length of cloth cut off. The knife 40 with its motor drive 39 and the foot 41 are mounted on the carriage 33 traversible across the table 1 by means of a motordriven endless chain 37 to which is secured one end of a cord 34, the cord passing around pulleys 35 and having its other end secured to the carriage. The side edge of the cloth is clampable by means of a clamp 59 pivoted to the table. In operation, on the first movement of the carriage, an actuator bar thereon operates a microswitch 70 on a frame 30 to cause the clamp 59 to be lowered. As the carriage reaches the far side, another actuator bar on the carrage operates a microswitch 71 which causes a jet of air to be projected from a nozzle 58 to blow the rear edge of the cut length forwards to ensure a gap between the cut edges for operating the light beam to cause the next length to be cut. The clamp is now raised by means of a time-delay device. Another actuator bar on the carriage operates a micro-switch 72 to stop the cutter motor and start the drive to the belts 2. Also, a wheel on the carriage engages an abutment 56 to raise the front of the carriage and thereby lift the cutter above the cloth for its return traverse. When the carriage reaches the starting end of its traverse, it is again lowered into cutting position by engagement of a bar 52, Fig. 5 (not shown), with the frame 30. Also, at this end of the traverse, an actuator bar on the carriage operates a microswitch 73 to stop the traverse drive. If the cutter should fail to rise at the end of its cutting traverse, one of the actuator bars, on the carriage may be arranged to operate a toggle microswitch 72X to stop the machine.